Well-known former LA Dodgers manager Thomas “Tommy” Lasorda is Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila’s godfather. Avila’s paternal grandfather had been vice president of the Dodgers during Lasorda’s tenure and Lasorda became a friend of the Avila family. In a recent interview Avila explained that Lasorda was named for Thomas Aquinas and that his (Avila’s) middle name is also Thomas, presumably from Lasorda and Aquinas.